And they made bells of pure gold and attached them around the hem between the pomegranates. – Exodus 39:25

Today's Scripture Reading (October 26, 2021): Exodus 39

In days past, the lighthouse was an integral part of maritime travel. These towers with a light on the top were used for navigation and as a warning system for ships that the water around the lighthouse was dangerous and that ships should steer clear of the area. Usually, a lighthouse was manned, and the lighthouse keeper had two main roles; one was to maintain the light, and the other task was to be part of a rescue team if one was ever needed in the coastal area that surrounded the light house. As time passed, the need for maintenance started to be performed by people who did not live at the lighthouse, but the light house keeper remained as the primary rescue worker. Gradually, that also began to be phased out. There were better ways to rescue those perishing in the water than by a lighthouse keeper. Eventually, lighthouse started to become empty building. The light still shone, but no one was home. Some places have begun to reverse that trend in favor, once again, of the staffed light houses. Canada has fifty such lighthouses, with twenty-seven of them on the west coast or the Pacific side of the nation.

But sometimes, as the fog rolled in, the light was no longer available to be seen. In such cases, a foghorn was often used to indicate danger. Or sometimes, a small cannon was fired at certain intervals to alert the ships in the area. The light might not be able to be seen, but the sound could be heard, and ships understood that they were being warned away.

Aaron was to wear bells of gold on the hem of his robe. A fuller explanation is given in Exodus.

Make pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet yarn around the hem of the robe, with gold bells between them. The gold bells and the pomegranates are to alternate around the hem of the robe. Aaron must wear it when he ministers. The sound of the bells will be heard when he enters the Holy Place before the Lord and when he comes out, so that he will not die (Exodus 28:33-35).

The bells were intended to be a warning. Rev. John Schulz, a missionary and Bible teacher, wrties this:

The sound of the bells helped to remind him, and everybody else who heard it, that the God they were approaching was a consuming fire. The Israelites were not dealing with an idol which was the product of human industry and ingenuity, but with the Creator of heaven and earth by whose will we all have been created and have our being (John Schultz, Commentary on Exodus 39).

The small bells worn on the hem of priest’s robe was intended to be a foghorn, or a small cannon, reminding those that heard it that they were entering into the presence of a powerful God, and everyone in his presence should be very careful.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Exodus 40